As Lowry fired a bogey-free, five-under 67 to get to nine-under par, McIlroy sprayed the ball all over Jumeirah Golf Estates but still made seven birdies in a rollercoaster 69.

The Ryder Cup duo are tied for second with Justin Rose (67), Kiwi Daniel Hillier (68) and Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (67), just three shots behind 2023 champion Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark, who shot 65 to hit the front.

McIlroy remains on course to win the Race to Dubai for the seventh time, and he was pleased to keep "hanging around" and keep his hopes alive of a fourth DP World Tour Championship victory.

"I had to battle a little more today than I did yesterday," McIlroy admitted.

"I missed a couple more fairways today. And when I did miss the fairways, I got some really bad lies, like the worst lies I've

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